4 ms·

A more appropriate title might be, "Selling a Stair Climbing Dolly..." as this is mostly a story about understanding how to get in front of your target audience

by RyanOD 8y ago

A more appropriate title might be, "Selling a Stair Climbing Dolly..." as this is mostly a story about understanding how to get in front of your target audience and sell through the right channels (Facebook, Costco, Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, Lowe's, and QVC).

deleted 8y ago
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ghostbrainalpha 8y ago
It's definitely a little of both. But its nice to see how far a little engineering development and solid (but not genius) marketing can take somebody.
rasz 8y ago
It seems one of the ways to sell is to claim the invention, just like Apple https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/con-jobs-5-things-apple-didnt-invent-internet-wont-shut/ https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/con-jobs-5-things-apple-didnt-...
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- cgy1 8y ago
  I don't think Apple claimed that they invented any of those things listed. Seems like a bit of a strawman.
- malshe 8y ago
  This article is irrelevant because none of the claims there is made by Apple. It's what people believe. The closest claim is that Apple invented USB-C but again there is no official claim and all you have is John Gruber saying that he was told about it by someone who he won't name. In contrast, this product is literally what the manufacturer is claiming to have invented.
samstave 8y ago
Honest question; how large is QVC's reach and market and WHY is it whatever it is? IMO, if you want to succeed with QVC, you should market a widget to the elderly/uneducated?
- toomuchtodo 8y ago
  QVC Vendor Reference Guide (PDF) answers your questions. https://vendorportal.qvc.com/documents/10184/0/QVC-Vendor+Quick+Reference+Guide/3d01e596-02c2-4e26-9f91-2cf196bc3585 https://vendorportal.qvc.com/documents/10184/0/QVC-Vendor+Qu...
  - astura 8y ago
    That PDF doesn't answer any of those questions. The only thing I saw that sorta was related to the comment you were replying to was "Our customers are affluent, educated, digitally savvy — and loyal. Over 90% of our sales come from repeat customers" other than the 90% sales figure, that's just meaningless marketing fluff, no data/figures was given to back it up. The rest was just about the logistics of selling on QVC.
  - fromthestart 8y ago
    Didn't see much of anything beyond a generic "educated, affluent" passing blurb regarding customers. I was more surprised by how QVC requires vendors to pay thousands for QVC's own prep, like makeup and hair, among other things. Seems like a scam all around...except unfortunately the junk they vend seems to be selling.
- dole 8y ago
  IMHO, one major reason for the why: payment plans for most anything they sell. I can't think of another major (online) retailer that offers this, QVC has the infrastructure and risk all sussed out. Consumers can get moderately priced ($200-$500) goods in their hands quick for a fraction of the regular price and get them locked into a subscription-style model. QVC may have a much higher return rate than other retailers, but I assume they also have a higher rate of people who keep items they may not use or like and keep paying out of laziness.

by RyanOD 8y ago

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

ghostbrainalpha 8y ago

It's definitely a little of both. But its nice to see how far a little engineering development and solid (but not genius) marketing can take somebody.

rasz 8y ago

It seems one of the ways to sell is to claim the invention, just like Apple https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/con-jobs-5-things-apple-didnt-invent-internet-wont-shut/ https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/con-jobs-5-things-apple-didnt-...

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
cgy1 8y ago
I don't think Apple claimed that they invented any of those things listed. Seems like a bit of a strawman.
malshe 8y ago
This article is irrelevant because none of the claims there is made by Apple. It's what people believe. The closest claim is that Apple invented USB-C but again there is no official claim and all you have is John Gruber saying that he was told about it by someone who he won't name. In contrast, this product is literally what the manufacturer is claiming to have invented.

samstave 8y ago

Honest question; how large is QVC's reach and market and WHY is it whatever it is? IMO, if you want to succeed with QVC, you should market a widget to the elderly/uneducated?

toomuchtodo 8y ago
QVC Vendor Reference Guide (PDF) answers your questions. https://vendorportal.qvc.com/documents/10184/0/QVC-Vendor+Quick+Reference+Guide/3d01e596-02c2-4e26-9f91-2cf196bc3585 https://vendorportal.qvc.com/documents/10184/0/QVC-Vendor+Qu...
- astura 8y ago
  That PDF doesn't answer any of those questions. The only thing I saw that sorta was related to the comment you were replying to was "Our customers are affluent, educated, digitally savvy — and loyal. Over 90% of our sales come from repeat customers" other than the 90% sales figure, that's just meaningless marketing fluff, no data/figures was given to back it up. The rest was just about the logistics of selling on QVC.
- fromthestart 8y ago
  Didn't see much of anything beyond a generic "educated, affluent" passing blurb regarding customers. I was more surprised by how QVC requires vendors to pay thousands for QVC's own prep, like makeup and hair, among other things. Seems like a scam all around...except unfortunately the junk they vend seems to be selling.
dole 8y ago
IMHO, one major reason for the why: payment plans for most anything they sell. I can't think of another major (online) retailer that offers this, QVC has the infrastructure and risk all sussed out. Consumers can get moderately priced ($200-$500) goods in their hands quick for a fraction of the regular price and get them locked into a subscription-style model. QVC may have a much higher return rate than other retailers, but I assume they also have a higher rate of people who keep items they may not use or like and keep paying out of laziness.